Page 102 (2/2)

Now that I was a free et serious about my future

Our future

Maybe it was an excuse to delay things, but I fired upway to the mall

Showing up at Juliet’s house empty-handed wasn’t an option

When I got there, I circled the parking lot twice before going inside What the fuck do you get your girlfriend when you’re not even sure she’s still your girlfriend? Hall-to-prison-still-wanna-be-irl cards

A dazzling display caught my eye I wandered into one of the ht to the case with the engages

Under the store’s bright lights, I felt as conspicuous as a flea on white velvet I shifted and hooked rubby jeans

If I wanted to propose, I was gonna need to kno much money I needed to save

“Looking for a gift for someone special?” the clerk asked me

“Yeah” This dude was probably two seconds froy ass “I’m, uh, not sure how much…”

He launched into a long speech, explaining more than I’d ever need to know about diaaze wandered over the glittering rows, landing on a small one in the corner I leaned in closer

It had a s leaves fanning out around it A solid, glittering daisy “How much is that one?”

“Oh, excellent choice” He pulled the ring out of the case and held it up in front of littering leaves” He wiggled his fingers over the ring like a ant”

Understated must’ve been code for “not expensive”

“She likes daisies and that kind of reminds me of one”

His face broke into a wide grin “It’s called the Daisy Duchess”

“The ring has a name?”

“Oh yes”

“Well, how hness home with me?”

He chuckled and named a price

My eyes bugged

He leaned in closer “I can probably get er to let me take a little off the price for you”

“Can I put it on hold?”

“Absolutely”

I pulled the envelope of money out of my pocket and plucked a crisp hundred-dollar bill out of the stack

He wrote up a receipt and some paperwork I stared at the number at the bottoh money to pay off the balance